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B1 verb 8 min read

فروشیدن

forukhtan
Examples Notes & Tips فروشیدن in 30 Seconds
Explanation فروشیدن in your Level:
At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'forukhtan' (the common form of the root in 'forushidan') means 'to sell'. You will mostly use it in the present tense to say things like 'I sell apples' or as a question 'Do you sell water?'. At this stage, focus on the present stem 'forush'. You will see this word on shop signs (Forushgah) and in basic shopping dialogues. It is one of the first verbs you learn because shopping is a primary way to interact with the language in the real world. You don't need to worry about complex grammar; just remember that the thing you are selling usually comes before the verb.
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At the A2 level, you should be able to use 'forukhtan' in both the past and present tenses. You will learn to say 'I sold my car last week' (Man hafte-ye pish mashinam ra forukhtam). You also begin to use the word with simple prices and prepositions. You should be familiar with the word 'Forushgah' (Store) and 'Forushandeh' (Seller). This level requires you to handle basic transactions in a bazaar, asking 'How much are you selling this for?' and understanding the answer. You also begin to see the word in compound forms like 'ketab-forush' (bookseller).
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At the B1 level, you are expected to use the verb in more complex sentence structures, including the subjunctive mood ('I want to sell my house') and with modal verbs ('I must sell this'). You should understand the metaphorical use of the word, such as 'selling an idea' or 'selling out a friend'. You are becoming aware of the difference between the standard 'forukhtan' and the more formal 'arze kardan' (to supply/offer). This level also introduces the passive voice ('The house was sold'), which is useful for reading news or advertisements. You can now participate in longer discussions about commerce and the economy.
At the B2 level, your use of 'forukhtan' and its derivatives becomes more fluid. You can use it in conditional sentences ('If I had sold it earlier, I would have made more money'). You understand the nuances of register—knowing when to use 'forukhtan' versus 'vagozar kardan' in a legal or business context. You are familiar with common idioms and fixed expressions involving the word. You can read business articles in Persian newspapers that discuss 'forush-e naft' (oil sales) or 'mizan-e forush' (sales volume) without much difficulty. Your vocabulary includes related technical terms like 'pish-forush' (pre-sale).
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At the C1 level, you master the stylistic variations of the verb. You can use it in literary contexts or sophisticated business negotiations. You understand the historical and cultural weight of trade in Iran and how the language reflects this. You can analyze the use of 'forukhtan' in classical Persian poetry, where it might represent selling one's soul to a beloved or to God. You are comfortable with complex nominalizations and can write reports on market trends, consumer behavior, and sales strategies using the full range of synonyms and related technical vocabulary.
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At the C2 level, your command of 'forukhtan' is indistinguishable from a native speaker. You can catch the subtlest hints of sarcasm or double entendre when the word is used in political commentary or high-level literature. You understand the etymological roots and how the verb has evolved from Middle Persian. You can engage in high-stakes legal or commercial negotiations where the precise meaning of 'transfer of ownership' (vagozar/forush) is critical. You are also aware of regional dialectal variations in how the verb is conjugated or used in different parts of the Persian-speaking world.
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Examples Notes & Tips

فروشیدن in 30 Seconds

  • Core verb for selling goods or services for money.
  • Present stem 'forush', past stem 'forukht'.
  • Used both literally (market) and metaphorically (betrayal).
  • Essential for B1 level shopping and business conversations.

The Persian verb فروشیدن (often encountered in its more common standard form فروختن) is the quintessential term for the act of selling. It represents the transfer of ownership of goods, services, or even abstract ideas in exchange for currency or value. In the heart of Iranian culture, from the ancient labyrinthine corridors of the Grand Bazaar in Tehran to the modern digital storefronts of Digikala, this word facilitates the lifeblood of the economy. To understand this word is to understand the social contract of the marketplace. It is not merely a clinical transaction; in Persian culture, selling involves a dance of negotiation, politeness, and social ritual known as Ta'arof. When a vendor says they are 'selling' something, they are entering into a relationship with the buyer that often extends beyond the simple exchange of cash. The root of the word, فروش (forush), is found in countless compound nouns like کتاب‌فروش (bookseller) or میوه‌فروش (fruit seller).

Core Concept
The act of relinquishing possession of an item to another party specifically for monetary gain.
Societal Role
In Iran, the seller is often seen as a 'habib-allah' (friend of God), emphasizing the ethical weight placed on honest trade.

او قصد دارد خانه قدیمی خود را به قیمت خوبی بفروشد.

Translation: He intends to sell his old house at a good price.

Beyond physical goods, the term is used metaphorically. One might 'sell' their soul, 'sell' a secret, or 'sell' an idea to a group of investors. In the political realm, it can imply betrayal, such as 'selling out' one's country or principles. This versatility makes it a B1-level essential, as it moves from the concrete grocery store setting into more abstract discussions about value and integrity. Understanding the nuances of how this word interacts with the preposition به (to) is crucial for learners. You sell something *to* someone, just as in English, but the word order in Persian typically places the object before the verb at the end of the sentence. Whether you are haggling over a carpet in Isfahan or discussing stock market trends, mastery of this verb and its derivatives is non-negotiable for any serious student of the Persian language.

این مغازه فقط محصولات ارگانیک می‌فروشد.

Translation: This shop only sells organic products.
Register
Used in all registers from highly formal legal contracts to street-level slang.

Using the verb for selling requires an understanding of the Persian transitive sentence structure. The basic formula is [Subject] + [Object] + [Postposition 'ra' if specific] + [Verb]. Because selling usually involves a specific item, the particle را (ra) is almost always present. For example, 'I sold the car' becomes Man mashin-ra forukhtam. In the present tense, we use the stem فروش (forush) with the prefix می- (mi-). Therefore, 'I am selling' is mi-forush-am. This regularity makes it easier for learners to construct sentences once they memorize the past stem (forukht) and present stem (forush).

آیا شما بلیت قطار هم می‌فروشید؟

Translation: Do you also sell train tickets?

When discussing prices, the preposition به (to/at) or با (with) is often used. To say 'I sold it for ten dollars,' you would say An ra be dah dalar forukhtam. It is also important to note the passive form, which is created using the past participle plus the auxiliary verb shodan (to become). So, forukhte shod means 'it was sold'. This is common in real estate or news reports about company acquisitions. In conversational Persian, the verb is often shortened or elided in rapid speech, but the 'sh' sound of the stem remains distinct, helping listeners identify the action immediately.

Negative Construction
Simply add the prefix 'na-' to the verb: 'na-forukhtam' (I did not sell).
Imperative Form
The imperative is 'be-forush' (Sell!). This is common in marketplaces where vendors shout to attract customers.

ما نباید وطنمان را به بیگانگان بفروشیم.

Translation: We must not sell our homeland to foreigners (metaphorical).

The auditory landscape of an Iranian city is filled with the sounds of people selling. If you walk through a residential neighborhood in the morning, you might hear the rhythmic call of the Namaki (the salt and junk collector) or the vegetable seller on a motorized cart. They don't always use the full verb 'mi-forusham', but they shout the names of the items, implying the sale. In formal settings, such as a bank or a business meeting, the word appears in the context of forush-e saham (selling shares) or forush-e vizheh (special sale/clearance). On television commercials, the phrase forush-e foghol-adeh is ubiquitous, signaling a massive discount or a limited-time offer.

آقا، این پیراهن را چند می‌فروشید؟

Translation: Sir, for how much are you selling this shirt?

In the digital age, the word has migrated to the internet. Apps like 'Divar' (the Iranian equivalent of Craigslist) are filled with listings that start with forushi (for sale). You will hear young people talking about 'selling' their old gaming consoles or 'selling' their time as a freelancer. Interestingly, in Persian slang, the verb can also mean to 'snitch' or 'betray'. If someone 'sells' their friend (refigh-esho forukht), it means they gave them up to the authorities or told a secret for personal gain. This double meaning is common in Iranian cinema and gritty television dramas, where loyalty is a recurring theme. Therefore, hearing the word in a dark alleyway in a movie might have a much more sinister connotation than hearing it in a bright supermarket.

Commercial Context
Found on signs: 'Forushgah' (Store), 'Namayeshgah-e Forush' (Sales Exhibition).
Digital Context
Buttons on websites usually say 'Kharid' (Buy), but the seller's dashboard will focus on 'Forush' (Sales/Selling).

او کلکسیون تمبر خود را به یک موزه فروخت.

Translation: He sold his stamp collection to a museum.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make is confusing the past and present stems. Because the infinitive is فروختن (forukhtan), learners often try to use forukht for the present tense. Remember: forukht is for the past (I sold), and forush is for the present (I sell). Another common pitfall is the misuse of the preposition از (from) instead of به (to). In English, we might say 'I sold it from my shop,' but in Persian, the focus is on the recipient: 'I sold it *to* someone.' If you say az kasi forukhtam, it sounds like you sold 'from' someone, which is grammatically confusing and often interpreted as 'I bought from someone' (using the wrong verb entirely).

Incorrect: من ماشینم را می‌فروختم (when you mean 'I am selling').

Correct: من ماشینم را می‌فروشم.

There is also the 'Ta'arof' trap. In Iran, a seller might initially say Ghabele nadare (It is not worthy of you / It is free). A beginner might take this literally and think the item is not for sale or is a gift. However, the seller is still 'selling' (forukhtan); they are just being polite. You must insist on paying. Confusing فروختن (to sell) with خریدن (to buy) is another classic mistake. Since they are often learned together, students flip them. Associate Forush with 'Forward' (giving away) and Kharid with 'Keep' (taking in) to keep them straight.

Stem Confusion
Using 'forukht' in the present tense or 'forush' in the past tense.
Preposition Error
Using 'az' (from) when you should use 'be' (to) for the buyer.

Common Error: او کتاب را از من فروخت.

Note: This sounds like 'He sold from me'. It should be 'He sold to me' (be man forukht) or 'He bought from me' (az man kharid).

While فروختن is the most common verb, Persian offers several alternatives depending on the context and formality. عرضه کردن (arze kardan) is used in business and economics to mean 'to supply' or 'to offer for sale'. If you are looking at a market report, you will see 'arze' used much more frequently than 'forush'. Another alternative is واگذار کردن (vagozar kardan), which means 'to cede' or 'to hand over'. This is often used in legal contexts, such as selling a business or a lease. It implies a more permanent or official transfer of rights than just a simple sale of a loaf of bread.

فروختن vs. عرضه کردن
'Forukhtan' is the transaction; 'Arze kardan' is the act of putting it on the market.
فروختن vs. آب کردن
'Ab kardan' (literally: to melt) is slang for selling something quickly, often something unwanted or illicit.
فروختن vs. حراج کردن
'Haraj kardan' specifically means to auction or to sell at a very high discount (clearance).

شرکت تصمیم گرفت شعبه‌های خود را واگذار کند.

Translation: The company decided to cede (sell/transfer) its branches.

In literary or poetic Persian, you might encounter be fe’e dar-avardan, though this is rare for simple selling. For the act of 'trading' or 'exchanging', the verb معامله کردن (mo’amele kardan) is used. This encompasses both buying and selling as a single business interaction. If you are 'selling' your time as a service, you might use khedmat era’e dadan (to provide service). Understanding these synonyms allows a B1 learner to transition from basic survival Persian to more professional and nuanced communication, allowing them to describe the economy, legal transfers, and street deals with precision.

Fun Fact

The present stem 'forush' and the past stem 'forukht' are quite different because of historical phonetic shifts in Old Persian. This 'irregularity' is actually a hallmark of ancient Indo-European verbs.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /fo.ɾuː.ʃiː.dæn/
US /foʊ.ru.ʃi.dæn/
The stress in Persian infinitives is typically on the last syllable: fo-ru-shi-DAN.
Rhymes With
کوشیدن (kushidan) پوشیدن (pushidan) نوشیدن (nushidan) جوشیدن (jushidan) خروشیدن (khorushidan) تراشیدن (tarashidan) خراشیدن (khorashidan) پاشیدن (pashidan)
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing 'u' as 'uh' instead of 'oo'.
  • Putting stress on the first syllable.
  • Confusing the 'sh' sound with 's'.
  • Mispronouncing the final 'n' as a nasal vowel.
  • Mixing up the stems in speech.
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Examples by Level

1

من سیب می‌فروشم.

I sell apples.

Present tense: 'mi' + 'forush' + 'am'.

2

او نان می‌فروشد.

He sells bread.

Third person singular present: 'mi' + 'forush' + 'ad'.

3

آیا شما شیر می‌فروشید؟

Do you sell milk?

Question form using the 'shoma' (you plural/formal) ending.

4

آن‌ها کتاب می‌فروشند.

They sell books.

Third person plural present: 'mi' + 'forush' + 'and'.

5

ما اینجا گل می‌فروشیم.

We sell flowers here.

First person plural present: 'mi' + 'forush' + 'im'.

6

این مغازه لباس می‌فروشد.

This shop sells clothes.

Subject is 'this shop', verb is 3rd person singular.

7

تو چه می‌فروشی؟

What do you sell?

Second person singular present: 'mi' + 'forush' + 'i'.

8

او بستنی می‌فروشد.

She sells ice cream.

Basic present tense structure.

1

من دیروز کتابم را فروختم.

I sold my book yesterday.

Past tense: 'forukht' + 'am'.

2

او ماشینش را به من فروخت.

He sold his car to me.

Use of the preposition 'be' (to).

3

ما همه میوه‌ها را فروختیم.

We sold all the fruits.

Past tense plural: 'forukht' + 'im'.

4

آیا شما خانه‌تان را فروختید؟

Did you sell your house?

Past tense question.

5

آن‌ها بلیط‌ها را ارزان فروختند.

They sold the tickets cheaply.

Adverb 'arzan' (cheaply) modifying the action.

6

او ساعت قدیمی‌اش را فروخت.

He sold his old watch.

Adjective 'ghadimi' (old) modifying the object.

7

من هنوز لپ‌تاپم را نفروخته‌ام.

I haven't sold my laptop yet.

Present perfect negative: 'na' + 'forukhte' + 'am'.

8

چرا این را فروختی؟

Why did you sell this?

Question word 'chera' (why).

1

می‌خواهم این تابلو را به قیمت بالایی بفروشم.

I want to sell this painting at a high price.

Subjunctive mood: 'be' + 'forush' + 'am' after 'mi-khaham'.

2

او نباید اسرار شرکت را بفروشد.

He should not sell the company's secrets.

Modal verb 'nabayad' (should not) followed by subjunctive.

3

این خانه هفته گذشته فروخته شد.

This house was sold last week.

Passive voice: past participle 'forukhte' + 'shod'.

4

اگر بیشتر تلاش کنی، کالاهای بیشتری می‌فروشی.

If you try harder, you will sell more goods.

Conditional sentence type 1.

5

او با فروختن صنایع دستی زندگی می‌کند.

She makes a living by selling handicrafts.

Gerund-like use: 'ba' + infinitive 'forukhtan'.

6

ممکن است فردا سهامم را بفروشم.

I might sell my shares tomorrow.

Modal 'momken ast' (it is possible) + subjunctive.

7

فروشنده سعی کرد جنس تقلبی را به من بفروشد.

The seller tried to sell me a fake item.

Verb 'sa'y kardan' (to try) + subjunctive.

8

آیا می‌توانی این ایده را به مدیر بفروشی؟

Can you sell this idea to the manager?

Metaphorical use of 'selling' an idea.

1

دولت قصد دارد بخشی از دارایی‌های خود را واگذار کند.

The government intends to cede (sell) part of its assets.

Use of formal synonym 'vagozar kardan'.

2

او با فروش اطلاعات محرمانه، به کشورش خیانت کرد.

By selling confidential information, he betrayed his country.

Complex sentence with 'ba' + noun 'forush'.

3

محصولات ما در بازارهای جهانی به خوبی فروخته می‌شوند.

Our products are sold well in global markets.

Passive present continuous: 'forukhte mi-shavand'.

4

او هرگز وجدان خود را به پول نمی‌فروشد.

He never sells his conscience for money.

Abstract/ethical use of the verb.

5

پیش از آنکه قیمت‌ها افت کند، باید طلاهایت را بفروشی.

Before prices drop, you should sell your gold.

Subordinate clause with 'pish az anke'.

6

شرکت ما در حال حراج کردن مدل‌های قدیمی است.

Our company is currently auctioning/clearing old models.

Use of 'haraj kardan' for clearance sales.

7

او آپارتمانش را زیر قیمت بازار فروخت.

He sold his apartment below market price.

Idiomatic 'zir-e gheymat' (below price).

8

آیا این کالا به صورت عمده هم فروخته می‌شود؟

Is this item also sold wholesale?

Adverbial 'be surate omdeh' (wholesale).

1

برخی معتقدند که حریم خصوصی نباید به عنوان یک کالا فروخته شود.

Some believe that privacy should not be sold as a commodity.

Sophisticated passive subjunctive.

2

او با زیرکی توانست کالای بنجل خود را به مشتری غالب کند.

With cunning, he managed to foist (sell) his inferior goods on the customer.

Use of 'ghaleb kardan' (to foist/force sell).

3

میزان فروش نفت خام در بودجه سال آینده نقش کلیدی دارد.

The volume of crude oil sales plays a key role in next year's budget.

Noun form 'forush' in a formal economic context.

4

شاعر در این غزل، جان خود را در ازای یک بوسه می‌فروشد.

In this lyric poem, the poet sells his life in exchange for a kiss.

Literary/symbolic usage.

5

سیاست‌های جدید باعث شده که تولیدکنندگان محصولات خود را مستقیم بفروشند.

New policies have caused producers to sell their products directly.

Causative structure leading to subjunctive.

6

او به خاطر بدهی سنگین، مجبور شد تمام اموالش را به حراج بگذارد.

Due to heavy debt, he was forced to put all his property up for auction.

Phrase 'be haraj gozashtan' (to put for auction).

7

فروش بی‌رویه منابع طبیعی، آینده نسل‌های بعدی را به خطر می‌اندازد.

The excessive selling of natural resources endangers the future of next generations.

Compound noun phrase 'forush-e bi-roviye'.

8

در این معامله، هر دو طرف سود زیادی بردند.

In this transaction (buying and selling), both sides gained a lot of profit.

Use of 'mo'amele' to encompass the whole act of trade.

1

استراتژی‌های بازاریابی مدرن بر فروش تجربه تمرکز دارند تا خود محصول.

Modern marketing strategies focus on selling the experience rather than the product itself.

Abstract marketing terminology.

2

او با وقاحت تمام، رفیق چندین ساله‌اش را به مشتی دلار فروخت.

With utter audacity, he sold out his friend of many years for a handful of dollars.

Idiomatic and emotional register.

3

تبیین سازوکارهای عرضه و فروش در اقتصادهای دستوری امری پیچیده است.

Explaining the mechanisms of supply and sale in command economies is a complex matter.

Academic and technical Persian.

4

فروختن یا نفروختن؛ مسئله این است که آیا ارزش‌های اخلاقی را فدا کنیم؟

To sell or not to sell; the question is whether we sacrifice moral values?

Philosophical use of the infinitive.

5

او در بازار سیاه، داروهای کمیاب را به قیمت‌های نجومی می‌فروشد.

He sells rare medicines at astronomical prices in the black market.

Use of 'gheymat-haye nojumi' (astronomical prices).

6

حقوق مالکیت معنوی مانع از فروش غیرقانونی آثار هنری می‌شود.

Intellectual property rights prevent the illegal selling of artworks.

Legal Persian context.

7

فروشندگان دوره‌گرد، بخشی جدایی‌ناپذیر از نوستالژی کوچه‌های قدیمی تهران هستند.

Itinerant vendors are an inseparable part of the nostalgia of old Tehran alleys.

Cultural and descriptive complex sentence.

8

او با فروش سهام خود در زمان اوج، ثروت کلانی به هم زد.

By selling his shares at the peak, he amassed a huge fortune.

Financial idiom 'servat be ham zadan'.

Common Collocations

فروش ویژه
فروش اقساطی
فروش عمده
فروش جزئی
فروش نقدی
فروش فوق‌العاده
میزان فروش
حق فروش
نمایندگی فروش
فروش آنلاین

Common Phrases

چند می‌فروشی؟

— How much are you selling it for? Used in haggling.

این پیراهن را چند می‌فروشی؟

فروشی نیست.

— It's not for sale. Used when someone wants to buy your property.

این خانه یادگار پدرم است، فروشی نیست.

خوب می‌فروشد.

— It sells well. Referring to a popular product.

این کتاب جدید خیلی خوب می‌فروشد.

همه را فروخت.

— He sold everything. Can imply success or desperation.

او برای سفر، همه را فروخت.

به قیمت فروختن

— To sell at a fair or market price.

باید ماشین را به قیمت بفروشی.

ارزان فروختن

— To sell cheaply.

او باغش را خیلی ارزان فروخت.

گران فروختن

— To overcharge or sell expensively.

این مغازه اجناسش را گران می‌فروشد.

پیش‌فروش کردن

— To pre-sell something before it is ready.

آپارتمان‌ها را پیش‌فروش کردند.

فروش رفتن

— To be sold (intransitive/passive feel).

همه بلیت‌ها فروش رفت.

فروشنده بودن

— To be a seller (by profession or in a deal).

او فروشنده ماهری است.

Idioms & Expressions

"خود را فروختن"

— To sell oneself out; to compromise one's principles for money.

او برای رسیدن به قدرت، خود را فروخت.

Disapproving
"رفیق‌فروشی"

— Betraying a friend for personal gain.

رفیق‌فروشی بدترین کار است.

Informal
"دین خود را به دنیا فروختن"

— To sacrifice one's faith/ethics for worldly gain.

نباید دین خود را به دنیا بفروشی.

Religious/Literary
"هندوانه زیر بغل کسی گذاشتن"

— Though not using the verb, it's the 'sales talk' of flattery to get someone to buy/do something.

با هندوانه زیر بغل گذاشتن می‌خواست جنسی را بفروشد.

Idiomatic
"فروختن و ریختن"

— To sell everything and spend it all quickly.

ارث پدری را فروخت و ریخت.

Informal
"به شرط چاقو"

— Selling something (usually a watermelon) with a guarantee of quality.

این هندوانه را به شرط چاقو می‌فروشم.

Marketplace
"گنجشک را رنگ کردن و جای قناری فروختن"

— To deceive someone by selling a low-quality item as high-quality.

او گنجشک را رنگ می‌کند و جای قناری می‌فروشد.

Idiomatic
"آب کردن و رفتن"

— To sell something off and disappear.

اموال را آب کرد و رفت خارج.

Slang
"فروش به هر قیمتی"

— Selling at any cost (desperation).

او به هر قیمتی می‌خواهد خانه را بفروشد.

Neutral
"وطن‌فروشی"

— Treason; selling out one's country.

وطن‌فروشی ننگی ابدی است.

Political

Word Family

Nouns

فروش (Sale)
فروشنده (Seller)
فروشگاه (Store)
پیش‌فروش (Pre-sale)
فروخت (The act of selling - rare/archaic)

Verbs

فروختن (To sell - standard)
فروشیدن (To sell - stem-based)
بازفروختن (To resell)
پیش‌فروختن (To pre-sell)
فروخته شدن (To be sold)

Adjectives

فروشی (For sale)
فروخته (Sold)
قابل فروش (Salable)
پرفروش (Best-selling)
کم‌فروش (Low-selling/Cheating seller)

Related

خرید (Purchase)
مشتری (Customer)
بازار (Market)
قیمت (Price)
کالا (Commodity)
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Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'FOR SALE' and the Persian 'FOR-ush'. Both start with the same sound. Imagine a 'FOR' sign in a 'RUSH' (forush) at a busy market.

Visual Association

Imagine a Persian carpet being rolled out (Forward/FOR) and a merchant shouting 'FORUSH!' to a crowd.

Word Origin

Derived from the Middle Persian (Pahlavi) word 'faroxtan'. The root is related to the Old Persian 'fra-vaxsh', meaning to grow or promote, which evolved into the concept of bringing forth for trade.

Original meaning: To bring forth, to promote, or to deliver for exchange.

Indo-European -> Indo-Iranian -> Iranian -> West Iranian -> Persian.
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